Duhamel/Radford retire from competitive skating

[Eislauffan]

No surprise, but today Skate Canada published the press release:

Meagan Duhamel and Eric Radford retire from competitive skating.
https://skatecanada.ca/2018/04/pair...eric-radford-retire-from-competitive-skating/

Thank you, Meagan and Eric for your career and for pushing the limits and never giving up.

 

[Bellanca]

Good luck and best wishes to Duhamel & Radford! Thanks for the memories!

 

[Catherine M]

Best of luck to Meghan & Eric as they begin the next phase of their lives.

Their gold medal freeskate at Boston Worlds in 2016 is a top five live skating moment for me! Makes me smile thinking about it.

 

[Xela M]

I have been one of their most vocal critics on here, but they have absolutely won me over in PyeongChang. So much grit, determination and personal class deserves utmost respect.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

Best of luck to them. They were my favorite international pairs team the last 4 years.

Cant wait to see them on pro circuit!!!!!

 

[SamuraiK]

They provided something different to the pairs field, They were definetly not the most refined which bugged many fans but they weren't wooden or robotic either They kinda created their own fresh indie and unique style and I appreciate them for that.

And whether you enjoyed Meagan's skating or not she's a super star. I will miss her infectios joy during competitions.

 

[skatfan]

These two are definitely classy. They will have great post-skating careers. I would love to see Meghan commentate on skating, plus could she just be my personal coach for life? Eric I hope will continue to compose for skating in addition to other pursuits.

 

[kwanfan1818]

Health and happiness to both of them

I look forward to seeing what they do next.

 

[Habs]

I love that Meagan wants to take the training to become a technical specialist. It's great that she wants to stay involved in skating - she has so much to offer and they are both the very definition of class and sportsmanship.

I wish Meagan and Eric all the best in their post-retirement years.

 

[MAXSwagg]

Meaghan would be good as a technical specialist. As long as she stays away from choreography, or is not in a position to manipulate rules away from the foundations of pairs skating.

 

[3Lz+3Lo]

Good luck to both of them!

 

[AYS]

Congratulations to them both on a fantastic career and best of luck in their future endeavors. I think it's safe to say that they showed us all what they're made of over and over and Meagan narrated it all for us.

 

[caseyedwards]

Bye Felicia’s!!!!!!!!

 

[Deleted member 74551]

They are both class acts and really made the most out of what they had. The very best of luck to them in their future endeavours.

We knew all these Canadian veterans were retiring, but it’s only just hitting me with all these official announcements how much they’ve all given to the sport. Only Tessa and Scott left to go and then it truly will be the end of an era.

 

[caseyedwards]

She is not classy! That’s a lie. Saying zagitova is on drugs and trankov is miserable sob. She is actual trash.

 

[overedge]

She is not classy! That’s a lie. Saying zagitova is on drugs and trankov is miserable sob. She is actual trash.

And pointing this out on a day when their accomplishments are being recognized is so classy of you

 

[DimaToe]

Their hard work and making the system work for their strengths instead of trying to go the lyrical and “accepted” pairs style has really impressed me throughout their career. I wish them luck in their future plans and I’m pretty sure Duhamel will be a prominent coaching figure in the sport soon enough.

 

[overedge]

Worth remembering too that Eric also made skating history as the first openly gay skater to become a world champion - as in, he was out when he won.

 

[skatfan]

And pointing this out on a day when their accomplishments are being recognized is so classy of you

And so helpful to remind me of the ignore feature on this board. Thanks, Casey!

 

[Japanfan]

I have been one of their most vocal critics on here, but they have absolutely won me over in PyeongChang. So much grit, determination and personal class deserves utmost respect.

They have surprised me multiple times with clean, inspired skates. Their performance at the individual event in Peongchang is one of the few I want to watch over and over again.

There were a pair that didn't fit the mold, but didn't let that stop them. Instead, they found what worked for them and committed to it 100%, in addition to pushing the envelope technically.

I don't think anyone would have thought Megan would become a World Champion and Olympic medalist when she got into seniors and skated both individually and paired with Craig Buntin.

They have consistently displayed grit, determination and class, as Xela M. said.

Wishing them nothing but the best in their future careers. I will miss them.

 

[libecha]

I'm not a huge fan of their style but they have brought something unique and interesting to the sport, and they are thoughtful, kind people whose presence at competitions will be missed. Meagan does have her soapboxes, but I think it comes from a place of genuine caring and love for the sport of figure skating and you have to respect that. And rarely have I been so impressed with sportsmanship as I was with them backstage at the Olympics. I expect them to have continued success in other avenues in skating. Good luck to them both.

 

[caseyedwards]

And pointing this out on a day when their accomplishments are being recognized is so classy of you

One of their accomplishments is definitely not being classy. It’s so bizarre and baffling to hear that! Like why call her classy! If a person is not classy don’t bother with saying it because other people have been called it when they retire. I am not classy so don’t worry about not being called classy.

 

[DimaToe]

One of their accomplishments is definitely not being classy. It’s so bizarre and baffling to hear that! Like why call her classy! If a person is not classy don’t bother with saying it because other people have been called it when they retire. I am not classy so don’t worry about not being called classy.

Oh whatever If they were Russian you’d be having orgasms over their quad throws and technical ambition.

 

[caseyedwards]

Oh whatever If they were Russian you’d be having orgasms over their quad throws and technical ambition.

Yes but I would never call them classy if they weren’t. I don’t even care about class.

 

[DimaToe]

Yes but I would never call them classy if they weren’t. I don’t even care about class.

Which is relevant how? Many skaters have had moments in which they came off as tacky. The main point of this thread is to celebrate their career and like it or not (not making less of Radford) Duhamel has been a main figure in breaking the expected mold in pairs skating, and criticism is to be expected but Duhamel has for the most part respected her knowledge of this sport before her personal opinions, and like it or not that is something that someone “classy” would do.

 

[Japanfan]

One of their accomplishments is definitely not being classy.

Could you please give some examples of this?

Like why call her classy!

Because she has always been a gracious and respectful competitor. She has taken her losses in her stride and used them as a motivation to improve. She has never inappropriately blamed anyone else for her losses. And, she has worked hard to be the very best that she can be as a skater, never letting criticisms of her and Eric get to her (and there have been many).

In addition to that, she is a vegan who has great respect for animals and is involved in dog rescue (rescued one from the dog meat trade last year and another one after this Olympics). Maybe 'class' is not the right word for these actions, but I think they certainly merit much respect for Megan.

I am not classy so don’t worry about not being called classy.

Nope, you most certainly will never have to worry about anyone calling you classy.

 

[Josh78]

Passionate and smart people who are complete class acts in every sense of the word (no matter what SOME recent posters want to accuse them of) -- their determination through challenges to excel at the top of the sport while always trying to push the technical envelope (and making the system work for them both on the tech and artistic ends, no matter what their detractors say about their artistic merits) is something I will always admire them for! They will be missed (and I really hope they and a few other skaters newly retired are able to actually develop a new pro side to the skating world -- even if they have to fight ISU officials tooth and nail for it!)

 

[IloveFS]

They are both class acts and really made the most out of what they had. The very best of luck to them in their future endeavours.

We knew all these Canadian veterans were retiring, but it’s only just hitting me with all these official announcements how much they’ve all given to the sport. Only Tessa and Scott left to go and then it truly will be the end of an era.

I read somewhere (and hopefully I can find it on the weekend) that they (Tessa and Scott) have only made a firm decision about next year.

 

[IloveFS]

She is not classy! That’s a lie. Saying zagitova is on drugs and trankov is miserable sob. She is actual trash.

Where and when did Duhamel say that Zagitova is on drugs and Trankov is a miserable sob? I'd like to know because I don't think Duhamel would say things like that about other skaters.

 

[IloveFS]

Wow! I cannot believe the negative remarks about this wonderful team!!! I think they are the perfect example of working hard and achieving their absolute personal bests when it mattered the most (i.e. Worlds, Olympics, etc.) And to rebound from "lows", I think that's inspirational!